Torbay (UK Parliament constituency)

Coordinates: 50°27′36″N 3°32′17″W / 50.460°N 3.538°W / 50.460; -3.538

Torbay
Borough constituency
for the House of Commons

Outline map

Boundary of Torbay in Devon.

Outline map

Location of Devon within England.
County Devon
Electorate 76,219 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlements Paignton and Torquay
Current constituency
Created 1974 (1974)
Member of parliament Kevin Foster (Conservative)
Number of members One
Created from Torquay
Overlaps
European Parliament constituency South West England

Torbay is a constituency[n 1] represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Kevin Foster, a Conservative.[n 2]

Boundaries

1974-1983: The County Borough of Torbay.

1983-2010: The Borough of Torbay wards of Cockington with Chelston, Coverdale, Ellacombe, Preston, St Marychurch, St Michael's with Goodrington, Shiphay, Tormohun, and Torwood.

2010-present: The Borough of Torbay wards of Clifton with Maidenway, Cockington with Chelston, Ellacombe, Goodrington with Roselands, Preston, Roundham with Hyde, St Marychurch, Shiphay with the Willows, Tormohun, Watcombe, and Wellswood.

The constituency covers the majority of the Torbay unitary authority in Devon, including the seaside resorts of Torquay and most of Paignton. The remainder of the borough is covered by the Totnes constituency.

History

Political history

After being held for several Parliaments (taking together various predecessor areas) by Conservatives, from 1997 the seat was held by Liberal Democrats until 2015 when a Conservative re-took it. The majority in 1997 was the most marginal of that election, and the majority of 2,029 in 2005 was the lowest to date.

Prominent frontbenchers

Sir Frederic Bennett did not achieve his own ministry nationally, but he chaired in the European Parliament the European Democrats group.

Constituency profile

Consisting almost entirely of coastal towns and villages, the constituency has a range of shopping, tourist and visitor facilities from Paignton Zoo, safe bathing and boating to mini-golf, as well as a few nearby luxury resorts. Perhaps owing to the seasonal rise in employment, workless claimants, registered jobseekers, were in November 2012 significantly higher than the national average of 3.8%, at 5.0% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.[2]

The seat is home to the Plainmoor football ground, home to Torquay United. Past MP Adrian Sanders is a notable supporter of the football club.

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember[3] Party
Feb 1974 Sir Frederic Bennett Conservative
1987 Rupert Allason Conservative
1997 Adrian Sanders Liberal Democrat
2015 Kevin Foster Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General Election 2015: Torbay[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Kevin Foster[5] 19,551 40.7 +2.0
Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders 16,265 33.8 −13.2
UKIP Anthony McIntyre[6] 6,540 13.6 +8.3
Labour Su Maddock[7] 4,166 8.7 +2.1
Green Paula Hermes[8] 1,557 3.2 +2.3
Majority 3,286 6.8
Turnout 48,079 63.0 −1.6
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrat Swing +7.6
General Election 2010: Torbay[9][10][11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders 23,126 47.0 +5.2
Conservative Marcus Wood 19,048 38.7 +2.9
Labour David Pedrick-Friend 3,231 6.6 −7.9
UKIP Julien Parrott 2,628 5.3 −2.7
BNP Ann Conway 709 1.4 N/A
Green Sam Moss 468 1.0 N/A
Majority 4,078 8.3
Turnout 49,210 64.6 +4.4
Liberal Democrat hold Swing +1.1

Elections in the 2000s

General Election 2005: Torbay[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders 19,317 40.8 −9.7
Conservative Marcus Wood 17,288 36.5 +0.1
Labour David Pedrick-Friend 6,972 14.7 +5.3
UKIP Graham Booth 3,726 7.9 +4.7
Majority 2,029 4.3
Turnout 47,303 61.9 −0.6
Liberal Democrat hold Swing −4.9
General Election 2001: Torbay[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders 24,015 50.5 +10.9
Conservative Christian St. John Sweeting 17,307 36.4 −3.2
Labour John Robert MacKay 4,484 9.4 −5.4
UKIP Graham Booth 1,512 3.2 −0.5
Independent Mrs. Pam Winwrite Neale 251 0.5
Majority 6,708 14.1
Turnout 47,569 62.5 −11.3
Liberal Democrat hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General Election 1997: Torbay[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders 21,094 39.6
Conservative Rupert Allason 21,082 39.5
Labour Michael John Morey 7,923 14.9
UKIP Graham Booth 1,962 3.7 N/A
Liberal Bruce Henry Cowling 1,161 2.2 N/A
Rainbow Dream Ticket Paul David Wild 100 0.2 N/A
Majority 12 0.1
Turnout 53,322 73.8
Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative Swing 5.1
General Election 1992: Torbay[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Rupert Allason 28,624 49.9 −4.1
Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders 22,837 39.8 +2.2
Labour Peter Truscott 5,503 9.6 +1.2
National Front Robert Paul Jones 268 0.5 N/A
Natural Law Mrs Alison Hazel Thomas 157 0.3 N/A
Majority 5,787 10.1 −6.3
Turnout 57,389 80.6 +4.3
Conservative hold Swing −3.2

Elections in the 1980s

General Election 1987: Torbay[17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Rupert Allason 29,029 54.0 +1.2
Liberal Nicholas David Bye 20,209 37.6 −1.6
Labour Gerald Robert Taylor 4,538 8.4 +1.2
Majority 8,820 16.4
Turnout 53,776 76.4
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1983: Torbay[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Frederic Bennett 25,721 52.6
Liberal Michael Norman Mitchell 19,166 39.2
Labour Philip William Rackley 3,521 7.2
Independent Anne Mary Louise Murray 500 1.0
Majority 6,555 13.4
Turnout 48,908 72.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General Election 1979: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Frederic Bennett 36,099 54.1 +5.7
Liberal Michael Norman Mitchell 15,231 23.1 −5.4
Labour Elaine Vicary Fear 12,919 19.6 −3.5
Ecology David William Abrahams 1,161 1.8 N/A
National Front June Georgina Spry 647 1.0 N/A
Majority 20,868 31.6
Turnout 66,057 75.1
Conservative hold Swing
General Election October 1974: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Frederic Bennett 30,208 48.4 −0.2
Liberal John Michael Goss 17,770 28.5 −1.9
Labour Jack Richard William Tench 14,441 23.1 +2.0
Majority 12,438 19.9
Turnout 62,419 72.9 −7.4
Conservative hold Swing
General Election February 1974: Torbay
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Frederic Bennett 33,163 48.6 N/A
Liberal Mrs. Bridget Valentine Trethewey 20,755 30.4 N/A
Labour Jack Richard William Tench 14,389 21.1 N/A
Majority 12,408 18.2 N/A
Turnout 68,307 80.3 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)

See also

Notes and references

Notes
  1. ↑ A borough constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)
  2. ↑ As with all constituencies, the constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election at least every five years.
References
  1. ↑ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Unemployment claimants by constituency The Guardian
  3. ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 2)
  4. ↑ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mr Foster's website". Conservative Party.
  6. ↑ "Tony McIntyre's website". UKIP.
  7. ↑ "About Ms Maddock". Labour Party.
  8. ↑ "Green candidate announced for Torbay". Torquay Herald Express.
  9. ↑ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll: Torbay". Torbay Borough Council. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  11. ↑ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Torbay". BBC News.
  12. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  17. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1987. Politics Resources. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  19. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Politics Resources". Election 1983. Politics Resources. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
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